(Limerick East) asked the Minister for Finance the plans he has for reducing numbers in the public service in 1989; if the public service redundancy package will still apply; if so, the categories of public servants to which it will apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Public Service Numbers.
14.
The Government have decided that public service numbers policy in 1989 will follow broadly the same lines as in 1988. This means that no vacancy in the Civil Service may be filled without the consent of the Minister for Finance, while for the rest of the public service, excluding the commercial State-sponsored bodies, no vacancy may be filled without the approval of the responsible Minister with the consent of the Minister for Finance.
The early retirement terms which have been on general offer to all persons aged 50 and over in the Civil Service, health boards and non-commercial State bodies will not apply in 1989. Staff have been informed that if they wish to avail of the early retirement scheme, they must have left the public service by the end of this year.
The availability of the redundancy terms next year will be limited to personnel in those parts of the public service where staff levels are surplus to requirements.